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Dear Friends,

Lately, I’ve been overwhelmed by a deep sense of gratitude. When I pause to take it all in, I’m struck by what a gift it is to be part of this community.

The donors of Must! Charities are living proof of that generosity. Time and time again, you show up, sometimes in bold, extraordinary ways and sometimes in quiet, personal gestures. No matter how you show up, all of it makes an impact. That is one of the true joys of our collective giving model: every contribution, no matter the size or form, strengthens the whole.

I feel blessed to lead this organization, to be surrounded by an exceptional team committed to meaningful work, and to witness generosity on a scale I’ve never experienced before. THIS is what community looks like. This is our community. And there is no place I would rather be, and no work I would rather be doing.

Thank you for making this possible and for partnering with us as we continue to GIVE BIG for the good of our region.

With Gratitude,

Becky

CEO, Must! Charities

NEW PROJECT ANNOUNCEMENT!

(BIGGEST project we've ever launched)

From Farm to Family: A Solution to Hunger

Here in SLO County, we grow some of the freshest, healthiest food in the nation, yet far too many of our neighbors still can’t get enough of it to feed their families. That’s why we’re teaming up with the SLO Food Bank on a five-year, $2.3 million project to tackle hunger at its roots.

This investment will:



• Reach more Spanish-speaking families through bilingual outreach.
• Keep 70+ local nonprofit partners stocked with food to distribute, even as costs rise.
• Launch a Local Harvest Fund so fresh, locally grown food gets to those who need it most.
• Build lasting solutions by strengthening donor support and community engagement.

We kicked things off in a sizeable way at this year’s PURPOSE auction last weekend. The Fund-a-Need lot, dedicated solely to this project, brought in nearly $1.1M. That puts us nearly halfway to our project goal. Now it is your turn to help raise the rest and make this vision a reality.

As demand for food grows and funding gets harder to come by, every dollar matters more than ever. Together, we can make sure no neighbor is left wondering where their next meal will come from, not just today, but for years to come.

Want to know more about how you can get involved with this project? Email Cara@mustcharities.org. You can also read more details about this project HERE.

Must! Youth Board Applications NOW OPEN

How We Gather, Celebrate, and Make a Difference

At Must!, we partner with the community at a few events each year, such as the Austin Hope Golf Tournament, and we also host a couple of our own. Our Donor Appreciation BBQ is our cornerstone event, welcoming everyone with a family-friendly atmosphere and a heartfelt way to show gratitude to our donors. Each event is designed to bring people together, celebrate our community, and strengthen the impact we can make together.

One of our most anticipated events is The PITCH on November 6, 2025. This event, which falls under our Community Investment Department, is all about supporting local nonprofits and letting their voices be heard.

Many people are curious about our annual event, where we party with a PURPOSE. It is our largest fundraiser of the year, and it has a lot of strategy behind it for a reason. The goal is to generate as much money as we can in one single night. The funds help us further our mission and also serves as a launching point for some of our most significant projects. We created a video to help our guests understand the event they are about to experience, and we are sharing it more broadly so that everyone can see how PURPOSE works and why it matters.

An Insiders View of The Purpose of PURPOSE

AND NOW... THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

PURPOSE Event Raises Nearly $2.5 Million in One Night Setting a New Standard for Philanthropy in Wine Country

In a spectacular display of generosity and community spirit, PURPOSE, one of Paso Robles' most celebrated philanthropic events, raised nearly $2.5 million in a single evening, bringing its five-year total to over $10 million. With just 150 guests in attendance at EPOCH Estate Wines, this intimate, invitation-only gathering has secured its place among the most impactful fundraising events in the nation.

The 2025 PURPOSE event transported guests into an unforgettable evening of rare wines, exquisite food by internationally celebrated chef Sarah Glover, and the chance to bid on one-of-a-kind auction lots. Top-selling items included custom-curated dinners and extraordinary international journeys hosted by the winemakers themselves. Three auction lots garnered over six figures each, with the evening’s largest single lot fetching an impressive $172,000. Still, the real show stopper was the Fund-a-Need lot, generating $1.1 million in just under ten minutes for the SLO Food Bank.

In the world of high-impact giving, PURPOSE has proven that Paso Robles is not just a world-class wine destination—it’s a powerhouse for philanthropy.